Sony Chief hints that PlayStation Phone is a very real product

The PlayStation Phone has been one of the most consistently rumored devices in tech, but it seems pretty likely that we’ll actually finally see this gadgetological Sasquatch in 2011. Not only have we seen the prototype, but it looks very likely that the device will be revealed at February’s Mobile World Congress.

Add some more kindle to the PlayStation Phone rumor fire. Sony’s Kaz Hirai is now hinting that a PlayStation Phone is in the cards.

“We don’t want gamers to be asking, what’s the difference between that [a PS phone] and a PSP… we have to come up with a message that users will understand,” he told The New York Times. “It would have to be a product that keeps the PlayStation’s strengths intact.”

As for the future of the PSP, Hirai also hints that earlier reports that the PSP2 would support a multitouch back panel are correct.

“Depending on the game, there are ones where you can play perfectly well with a touch panel,” he said, although he still thinks the “immersive” games that are Sony’s focus play better with casual buttons.

Unless Sony’s just funning with us, it really looks like they’ve got a hot new device in prototype to wow us with in a couple months time. Color us excited.